Tennis scoring and display systems and methods

ABSTRACT

A scoring and display system is provided. The scoring and display system may include a weather and waterproof display housing providing a plurality of display screens electronically interconnected to a sound system, a power source and a control circuitry. The control circuitry may be configured to store and recognize a voice imprint of at least one predetermined game player. The control circuitry may be configured to store and recognize a plurality of scoring nomenclature, voice instructions and game commands of the at least one predetermined game player. The control circuitry may be configured to make the plurality of display screens and the sound system voice operable by and interactive to only the at least one predetermined game player. The plurality of display screens may be designed to represent the plurality of scoring nomenclature, voice instructions and game commands electronically through the plurality of display screens and audibly through the sound system. The scoring and display system is adaptable of a plurality of athletic competitions, including tennis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to scoring systems and, more particularly,to tennis scoring and display systems and methods.

Tennis players frequently forget the game score during the match and somust agree on the last score they remember. Pursuant to the officialrules, the score must be spoken before the next serve is legal. As aresult, the use of a scoreboard which presents and announces the scoreis helpful.

However, current scoreboards require that the participant or judge touchthe scoreboard to change the score, or otherwise manually input a newscore via a handheld device, interfering with the run of play of theparticipants, and otherwise adding a manual step to the scoring process.And in the case of the handheld device, adding equipment that canmalfunction, can break or can be misplaced.

As can be seen, there is a need for tennis scoring and display systemsand methods that are voice operable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a scoring and display system foran athletic competition comprises: a display housing have a plurality ofdisplay faces defining a compartment space; a display screen provided byat least one display face, wherein each display screen includes at leastone electromechanical display, electromagnetic display, dot matrixdisplay, e-ink, light-emitting diode array, liquid crystal display, andplasma display; a sound system configured for recording audible signals,wherein the sound system provides at least one directional microphonefor receiving audible signals; and a control circuitry electronicallyinterconnecting each display screen and the sound system, wherein thecontrol circuitry is configured to identify a plurality of game commandsreceived through the at least one directional microphone so as toproduce responsive electronic representations on each display screen.

In another aspect of the present invention, a scoring and display systemfor an athletic competition, comprises: a display housing have aplurality of display faces defining a compartment space; a displayscreen provided by at least one display face, wherein each displayscreen includes at least one electromechanical display, electromagneticdisplay, dot matrix display, e-ink, light-emitting diode array, liquidcrystal display, and plasma display; a sound system configured forrecording audible signals, wherein the sound system comprising: at leastone directional microphone for receiving audible signals; and at leastone speaker for producing audible signals; a control circuitryelectronically interconnecting each display screen and the sound system,wherein the control circuitry is configured for voice recognition byidentifying at least one voice imprint; and a program product comprisingmachine-readable program code for causing, when executed, the controlcircuitry to perform the following process steps: prompting at least onegame player to record the at least one voice imprint via the at leastone directional microphone; prompting the at least one game player torecord on the at least one directional microphone a plurality of scoringcommand for the athletic competition comprising at least one scoringsystem based on acquiring points; storing each recognized voice imprint;receiving via the at least one directional microphone audible signalscomprising at least one scoring command found within the plurality ofscoring commands; rewarding the at least one game player at least oneacquired point based at least in part on the scoring system and the atleast one scoring command comprising the at least one recognized voiceimprint; and producing on each display screen an electronicrepresentation of the acquired points of the at least one game player.

In another aspect of the present invention, method of scoring anddisplaying an athletic completion, comprises: providing a scoring anddisplay system comprising: a display housing have a plurality of displayfaces defining a compartment space; a display screen provided by eachdisplay face, wherein each display screen includes at least oneelectromechanical display, electromagnetic display, dot matrix display,light-emitting diode array, liquid crystal display, and plasma display;a sound system configured for recording audible sounds, wherein thesound system comprising: at least one directional microphone forreceiving audible signals; and at least one speaker for producingaudible signals; a net sensor configured to detect motion of an adjacentnet and a speed of a nearby ball; and a control circuitry electronicallyinterconnecting each display screen, the sound system and the netsensor, wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive audiblesignals from the at least one directional microphone so as to convertvoice instructions therein to responsive electronic representations viaeach display screen, and wherein the control circuitry is configured forindividual voice recognition and voice operability; prompting at leastone game player to record a voice imprint via the microphone; promptingthe at least one game player to record a set of scoring commands for theathletic competition comprising at least one scoring system based onacquiring points; storing each recognized voice imprint; receivingaudible sounds containing at least one scoring command found within theset of scoring commands; rewarding the at least one game player at leastone acquired point based at least in part on the scoring system and theat least one scoring command having a recognized voice imprint; andproducing on at least one display screen an electronic representation ofthe acquired points of the at least one game player.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a scoring anddisplay system. The scoring and display system may include a weather andwaterproof display housing providing a plurality of display screenselectronically interconnected to a sound system, a power source and acontrol circuitry. The control circuitry may be configured to store andrecognize a voice imprint of at least one predetermined game player. Thecontrol circuitry may be configured to store and recognize a pluralityof scoring nomenclature, voice instructions and game commands of the atleast one predetermined game player. The control circuitry may beconfigured to make the plurality of display screens and the sound systemvoice operable by and interactive to only the at least one predeterminedgame player. The plurality of display screens may be designed torepresent the plurality of scoring nomenclature, voice instructions andgame commands electronically through the plurality of display screensand audibly through the sound system. The scoring and display system isadaptable of a plurality of athletic competitions, including tennis.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the present invention may include ascoring and display system 10. The scoring and display system 10 mayinclude a display housing 12, a plurality of display screens 48, a soundsystem 70, a power source 52 and a control circuitry 92.

The display housing 12 may be made of any material that is weather andwaterproof so as to define a compartment space encasing componentstherein so as to make said compartment space weather and waterproof. Thedisplay housing 12 may include a top plate 25 and a plurality of displayfaces 80 defining the compartment space. The display housing 12 may havea generally triangular prism configuration with three display faces 80.The display housing 12 can be substantially cylindrical, conical orother geometric shapes with a plurality of display faces 80 so long asthe scoring and display system 10 functions in accordance with thepresent invention as described herein. The plurality of display faces 80may include the plurality of display screens 48, a plurality of speakerholes 18 and a plurality of microphone holes 20. Each display face 80may each have one display screen 48, one speaker hole 18 and onemicrophone hole 20.

The top plate 25 may provide a handle 34 for manually transporting thescoring and display system 10. The display housing 12 may provide atleast one hook 32 for removably mounting the scoring and display system10.

In certain embodiments, the scoring and display system 10 may include anet post fastener 90. The net post fastener 90 may include a bottomplate 26 configured to enclose the compartment space opposite of the topplate 25. The bottom plate 26 may be fixed to a support post 22 forminga post notch 24. In certain embodiments, the support post 22 mayterminate in a base plate 28, wherein the base plate 28 forms acomplementary base notch 30. Each notch 24, 30 may be configured toremovably mount to a net post 58.

The power source 52, as illustrated in FIG. 4, may include any type ofpower or battery source including rechargeable or disposable batteriesas well as common AC power. The power source 52 may be recharged and/orsupplemented by solar cells 36.

Each display screen 48 may include a set score display area 38, a gamescore display area 40 and a point set score display area 42. Eachdisplay screen 48 may include translucent material such as a translucentglass or plastic material combined with a light source 50. The lightsource 50 may include at least one electromechanical display,electromagnetic display, e-ink, dot matrix display, light-emitting diodearray, liquid crystal display, and/or plasma display. In certainembodiments, the light source 50 may include a plurality of printedcircuit boards providing light-emitting diode (LED) numeric arrays. Thelight source 50 may be configured to electronically represent numbers,characters and letters. The power source 52 may be electricallyconnected to the light source 50 for providing electrical power thereto.

The sound system 70 may be designed for recording and playing backaudible signals such as the scores tallied during a tennis match, aplurality of voice instructions, game commands and the like. The soundsystem 70 may include a plurality of directional microphones 16 forreceiving audible signals. Each directional microphone 16 of the soundsystem 70 may be provided adjacent to the exterior side surface of thedisplay housing 12 near the complementary microphone holes 20. Eachdirectional microphone 16 may be electronically connected to a voicereceiver 56 and the light source 50.

The sound system 70 may include a plurality of speakers 14 forprojecting audible signals, such as the English-language scores talliedduring a tennis match, a plurality of voice instructions, game commands,and the like. In certain embodiments, the projected audible signals areprovided in a plurality of pre-programmed languages, as chosen by theusers. Each speaker 14 of the sound system 70 may be provided adjacentto the exterior side surface of the display housing 12 near thecomplementary speaker holes 18. Each speaker 14 may be electronicallyconnected to an amplifier 54 and the light source 50.

In certain embodiments, the sound system 70 may be adapted to record avoice imprint of at least one user. The voice imprint may allow thescoring system and method 10 to recognize the voice and the voicemodulations of each of the plurality of users so as to avoidnon-participants (e.g. players from adjacent courts) from interferingwith the scoring system and method 10. In certain embodiments, the soundsystem 70 may be adapted to record a plurality of game commands and aplurality of voice instructions associated with the voice imprint of atleast one user.

The sound system 70 preferably has a recording switch provided on theexterior side surface of the display housing 12 for controlling thevolume of the sound system 70.

In certain embodiments, the scoring and display system 10 may provide anet sensor 44 configured to detect movement of, among other things, aball, a net 60, and the like. The net sensor 44 may be electronicallyinterconnected to a net sensor receiver 46 and the control circuitry 92.

The control circuitry 92 may be provided within the compartment space.The control circuitry 92 may include at least one processing element,such as a micro processor, and a form of memory. The control circuitry92 may be designed for individual voice recognition and voiceoperability. The control circuitry 92 may be configured to receiveaudible signals so as to filter out audible signals not having the voiceimprint of the at least one predetermined game player. The controlcircuitry 92 may be configured to filter audible signals so as toidentify the plurality of recorded game commands and voice instructionsof the at least one predetermined game player. The control circuitry 92may be electronically connected to the light source 50 on each displayscreen 48 so as to produce electronic representations of the pluralityof game commands and voice instructions thereon. The control circuitry92 may be electronically connected to the sound system 70 so as toproject through the plurality of speakers 14 audible representations ofthe plurality of game commands and voice instructions of the at leastone predetermined game player.

The control circuitry 92 may be configured to receive electronicrepresentations of the output of the net sensor 44 and/or the net sensorreceiver 46. In certain embodiments, the ball speed as the ball crossesthe net 60 may be electronically represented by the light source 50through the game score display area 40 and may be projected through theplurality of speakers 14 as an audible representation. Likewise,movement of the net 60 detected by the net sensor 44 may be representedby the light source 50 and the plurality of speakers 14.

The control circuitry 92 may include at least one computer with a userinterface. The computer may include any computer including, but notlimited to, a desktop, laptop, and smart device, such as, a tablet andsmart phone. The computer includes a program product including amachine-readable program code for causing, when executed, the computerto perform steps. The program product may include software which mayeither be loaded onto the computer or accessed by the computer. Theloaded software may include an application on a smart device. Thesoftware may be accessed by the computer using a web browser. Thecomputer may access the software via the web browser using the internet,extranet, intranet, host server, internet cloud and the like.

Referring to FIG. 5, a method of using 100 the present invention mayinclude the following. The scoring and display system 10 disclosed abovemay be provided and mounted near a playing area. A user may activate(turn on) the scoring and display system 10 and, in step 110 and in step140, each game player may state his or her name. The method 100 mayinclude the scoring and display system 10 prompting each game player tospeak so as to record a voice imprint of the at least one game player,in step 130 and step 160. The scoring and display system 10 may prompteach game player to speak so as to record a plurality of standard game(e.g. tennis) commands, scoring nomenclature and voice instructions, instep 120 and step 150. In certain embodiments, the recordation mayrequire each game player to repeat themselves for confirmatory purposes.

In step 170, the scoring and display system 10 records and saves forrecall the voice imprints for the at least one game player. When playingthe contest, the game player serving may announce a predetermined scorebefore each service, in step 180. When the predetermined score isannounced with a recognized voice imprint, the scoring and displaysystem 10 displays the predetermined score and announces thepredetermined score through the plurality of speakers 14, in step 190.When the game count (e.g., “3 serving 2”) is announced with either gameplayer's recognized voice imprint, the scoring and display system 10displays the predetermined count (here “3 serving 2”) in step 200. Ifthe net sensor 44 detects the ball touching the net 60 on a service, thescoring and display system 10 may announce a ‘let’, in step 210. As thematch progresses, the scoring and display system 10 may track andrepresent game, set and match wins, in step 220, as well as displayearlier scoring.

In an alternative embodiment, the voice activation could be replaced bya key fob, similar to a remote key chain with one or more keys. Withthree keys, score up, score down, reset are anticipated. The key chaincould be removably attached to at least one game player's apparel so asto allow for remote score changing during the match, by touching theappropriate keys. Voice activation of individual keys is anticipated.This alternative would still have the predetermined score announced bythe scoring and display system 10.

Though most examples provided herein relate to the sport of tennis, itshould be understood that the scoring and display system 10 may beapplicable to a wide array of other athletic endeavors, such as pickleball, baseball, football, basketball, soccer, racket ball, squash,volley ball and the like.

The computer-based data processing system and method described above isfor purposes of example only, and may be implemented in any type ofcomputer system or programming or processing environment, or in acomputer program, alone or in conjunction with hardware. The presentinvention may also be implemented in software stored on acomputer-readable medium and executed as a computer program on a generalpurpose or special purpose computer. For clarity, only those aspects ofthe system germane to the invention are described, and product detailswell known in the art are omitted. For the same reason, the computerhardware is not described in further detail. It should thus beunderstood that the invention is not limited to any specific computerlanguage, program, or computer. It is further contemplated that thepresent invention may be run on a stand-alone computer system, or may berun from a server computer system that can be accessed by a plurality ofclient computer systems interconnected over an intranet network, or thatis accessible to clients over the Internet. In addition, manyembodiments of the present invention have application to a wide range ofindustries. To the extent the present application discloses a system,the method implemented by that system, as well as software stored on acomputer-readable medium and executed as a computer program to performthe method on a general purpose or special purpose computer, are withinthe scope of the present invention. Further, to the extent the presentapplication discloses a method, a system of apparatuses configured toimplement the method are within the scope of the present invention.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A scoring and display system for an athleticcompetition comprising: a display housing have a plurality of displayfaces defining a compartment space; a display screen provided by atleast one display face, wherein each display screen includes at leastone electromechanical display, electromagnetic display, dot matrixdisplay, e-ink, light-emitting diode array, liquid crystal display, andplasma display; a sound system configured for recording audible signals,wherein the sound system provides at least one directional microphonefor receiving audible signals; and a control circuitry electronicallyinterconnecting each display screen and the sound system, wherein thecontrol circuitry is configured to identify a plurality of game commandsreceived through the at least one directional microphone so as toproduce responsive electronic representations on each display screen. 2.The scoring and display system of claim 1, further including at leastone speaker electronically connected to the sound system.
 3. The scoringand display system of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry isconfigured to produce responsive audible representations of theplurality of game commands through the at least one speaker.
 4. Thescoring and display system of claim 3, wherein the control circuitry isconfigured for voice recognition by identifying at least one voiceimprint, and wherein the representation of the plurality of gamecommands comprises the audible signal having the at least one voiceimprint.
 5. The scoring and display system of claim 1, further providinga net sensor disposed along at least one display face, wherein the netsensor is electronically connected to the control circuitry, and whereinthe net sensor is configured to determine the movement and speed of atleast one adjacent net and nearby ball.
 6. The scoring and displaysystem of claim 5, further providing a net post fastener comprising: abottom plate removably connected to at least one display face, whereinthe bottom plate has a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the topsurface encloses the compartment space; a post connected normal to thebottom surface, wherein the opposing end of the post terminates in abase plate generally parallel with the bottom plate; and a post notchformed in the base plate and the post.
 7. A scoring and display systemfor an athletic competition, comprising: a display housing have aplurality of display faces defining a compartment space; a displayscreen provided by at least one display face, wherein each displayscreen includes at least one electromechanical display, electromagneticdisplay, dot matrix display, e-ink, light-emitting diode array, liquidcrystal display, and plasma display; a sound system configured forrecording audible signals, wherein the sound system comprising: at leastone directional microphone for receiving audible signals; and at leastone speaker for producing audible signals; a control circuitryelectronically interconnecting each display screen and the sound system,wherein the control circuitry is configured for voice recognition byidentifying at least one voice imprint; and a program product comprisingmachine-readable program code for causing, when executed, the controlcircuitry to perform the following process steps: prompting at least onegame player to record the at least one voice imprint via the at leastone directional microphone; prompting the at least one game player torecord on the at least one directional microphone a plurality of scoringcommand for the athletic competition comprising at least one scoringsystem based on acquiring points; storing each recognized voice imprint;receiving via the at least one directional microphone audible signalscomprising at least one scoring command found within the plurality ofscoring commands; rewarding the at least one game player at least oneacquired point based at least in part on the scoring system and the atleast one scoring command comprising the at least one recognized voiceimprint; and producing on each display screen an electronicrepresentation of the acquired points of the at least one game player.8. The scoring and display system of claim 7, further providingproducing through the at least one speaker an audible representation ofthe acquired points of the at least one game player.
 9. A method ofscoring and displaying an athletic completion, comprising: providing ascoring and display system comprising: a display housing have aplurality of display faces defining a compartment space; a displayscreen provided by each display face, wherein each display screenincludes at least one electromechanical display, e-ink, electromagneticdisplay, dot matrix display, light-emitting diode array, liquid crystaldisplay, and plasma display; a sound system configured for recordingaudible sounds, wherein the sound system comprising: at least onedirectional microphone for receiving audible signals; and at least onespeaker for producing audible signals; a net sensor configured to detectmotion of an adjacent net and a speed of a nearby ball; and a controlcircuitry electronically interconnecting each display screen, the soundsystem and the net sensor, wherein the control circuitry is configuredto receive audible signals from the at least one directional microphoneso as to convert voice instructions therein to responsive electronicrepresentations via each display screen, and wherein the controlcircuitry is configured for individual voice recognition and voiceoperability; prompting at least one game player to record a voiceimprint via the microphone; prompting the at least one game player torecord a set of scoring commands for the athletic competition comprisingat least one scoring system based on acquiring points; storing eachrecognized voice imprint; receiving audible sounds containing at leastone scoring command found within the set of scoring commands; rewardingthe at least one game player at least one acquired point based at leastin part on the scoring system and the at least one scoring commandhaving a recognized voice imprint; and producing on at least one displayscreen an electronic representation of the acquired points of the atleast one game player.
 10. The method of claim 9, further providingproducing on the at least one speaker an audible representation of theacquired points of the at least one game player.
 11. The method of claim10, further providing the audible representation of the acquired pointssimultaneously with the electronic representation of the acquiredpoints.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the audible representationof the acquired points is provided in a variety of programmed languages.13. The method of claim 9, further including producing on at least onedisplay screen an electronic representation of a let when the net sensordetects motion of the adjacent net during a let serve.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, further providing on at least one speaker the audiblerepresentation of the let.
 15. The method of claim 13, further providingproducing on at least one display screen an electronic representation ofthe speed of the nearby ball as determined by the net sensor.
 16. Themethod of claim 15, further providing on at least one speaker theaudible representation of the speed of the nearby ball as determined bythe net sensor.